Palm Sunday, 2012

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Maundy Thursday, 2012

We recollect the events of the night before Jesus died when he gave His disciples bread and wine with a command to ‘do this in remembrance of me’ and was then betrayed. Jesus called his close followers – disciples – together to celebrate a very special meal. This is the meal of the Passover, celebrated by Jews since the time of Moses and recollecting the night that God ‘passed over’ Egypt as part of his plan to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. During the meal Jesus ‘changed the rules’ and initiated a new meal, one Christians call, amongst other things the Mass, Holy Communion and the Eucharist. This is to ensure we remember his sacrifice which saves us from slavery to the rules and habits of this world.
The service is followed by a period of watching until midnight which recalls the time when Jesus was actually betrayed.

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Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday, 2012

We celebrate Jesus coming back to life sometime between dusk and dawn on Easter Day

Jesus was buried in the late afternoon and at some point between sundown (the beginning of the ‘new day’ in biblical times) and dawn (when the empty tomb was discovered) He rose from the dead. That’s why we have this service in the late evening, the exact time will never be known, but in keeping with Tradition we make our celebration at this time. The service starts with celebrating new life by kindling a new fire to symbolise the Light that Christ brought to the world. We celebrate the Light of Christ as we enter Church and there follows the renewal of the promises made at Baptism and then Holy Communion.